Islamic University Malaysia

General Information

The International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) offers students a unique opportunity for academic excellence and individual growth. The University is committed to a rigourous, comprehensive approach to higher learning. IIUM regards knowledge as a trust from Allah to be utilised, in accordance with His guidance, for the benefit of human life. Thus, the University honours intellectual enquiry, considering the quest for knowledge to be an act of worship. By integrating sources of revealed knowledge with an arts and sciences curriculum the University contributes both to the enrichment of the intellectual tradition and the advancement of the individual and society.

The International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) was founded in 1983 by the Government of Malaysia and co-sponsored initially by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and a few muslim countries. The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, took the initiative to establish the University in 1982 and formed a committee to actualise the project by May 1983. The University was established under the Malaysian (Company Act) so as to allow the university to use English as the medium of instruction. This is due to the fact that Malaysian law does not allow a public university to use the medium of instruction other than Bahasa Malaysia. The University operates under the direction of a Board of Governors with representatives from the sponsoring governments and organisations, namely: Malaysia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Libya, the Maldives, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. Close links have been established between IIUM and such national and international institutions as the League of Islamic Universities, the International Association of Universities, and the Association of Commonwealth Universities. Affiliations with local businesses have enabled IIUM students to gain practical work experience in the application of their chosen disciplines in industry, in addition to their normal campus-based course work.

The first group of 153 students graduated from IIUM in 1987, and the University takes pride in the fact that its graduates have made a significant impact in Malaysia, as well as in many other countries. They have demonstrated excellence not only in the public and private sectors, but also in universities throughout the world where they have completed higher studies.

Students

There are approximately 7,165 undergraduate and 1,231 postgraduate students, including 1,467 international students from ninety two (92) countries, reflecting the geographic and cultural diversity of the ummah. IIUM students are highly motivated and academically talented, many mastering two or more languages. Many also pursue double degrees, for example in Human Sciences and Revealed Knowledge, Laws and Shari'ah, etc.

Faculty

The IIUM faculty is a distinguished group of scholars whose doctorates or other final professional degrees are from leading universities around the globe. Like the student body, the faculty also reflects the geographical and cultural diversity of the ummah in its inclusion of many different nationalities. They contribute to and edit professional and scholarly journals, author texts, undertake research, speak at international seminars and conferences, and are frequently consulted by scholarly, civic and corporate agencies.

Job Prospects

Malaysian graduates of IIUM have performed very well in both the public and private sectors. This is testimony to the high academic standards, language skills, and international exposure of IIUM graduates. Since 1987 IIUM has been producing about 3,000 graduates annually. Based on student performance, Malaysia Business Week in 1995 has ranked it as the number one university in Malaysia.

Graduates of the Faculty of Economics may find jobs as auditors, tax consultants, tax officers, bank officers, management accountants, project consultants, bursars, finance managers, business executives, accountants, marketing managers, government officers, lecturers and economists.

Graduates of the Faculty of Engineering majoring in Computer and Information Systems Engineering may find jobs as software engineers, hardware engineers, service engineers, production engineers, product quality engineers, project engineers, sales and marketing engineers, and systems analysts. Engineers majoring in manufacturing may find jobs as service engineers, production engineers, product quality engineers, process engineers, manufacturing engineers, project engineers, sales and marketing engineers, design engineers, and industrial engineers. Engineers majoring in Mechatronics may find jobs as software engineers, service engineers, production engineers, product quality engineers, process engineers, mechatronics engineers, project engineers, sales and marketing engineers, and design engineers.

IIUM law graduates may seek jobs as magistrates, deputy public prosecutors, legal draftsmen, legal advisors in various federal and state government offices, lecturers, and in Islamic judicial services. In the private sector, law graduates may find jobs as legal practioners, legal advisors, personnel managers, or as peguam syariat (Shari'ah lawyers).

Graduates of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences may find jobs in both the public and private sectors -- as government officers in various departments, psychologists, teachers, writers, journalists, editors, or in many other similar fields.